GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 10TH OCTOBER 2016
MONDAY OF THE 28TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
1ST READING: Galatians 4:22-24, 26-27
PSALM: Psalm 112:1-7
GOSPEL: Luke 11:29-32
THEME: THE SIGN OF JONAH
A flock of sheep heading towards the brow of a hill and faced with the danger of falling headlong have two options – they either listen to the voice of the shepherd calling them to turn back or continue to their perdition. Whenever we are heading towards a wrong direction in life, God always sends a “Jonah” with a message of repentance – a call to change direction.
In our Gospel text for today, Jesus, apparently overwhelmed by the level of unbelief and unresponsiveness to his message of repentance, said to the crowd, “This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation” (Lk. 11:29-30).
The above saying of Jesus affords us a flashback to the era of Jonah. When Jonah preached to the people of Nineveh, we are told that they made an effort to repent – they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth. The king of Nineveh, himself, rose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes (cf. Jon 3:5-6). In sum, the message of Jonah caused a U-turn in Nineveh. Jesus concluded his address to the crowd with the statement, “Look, there is something greater than Jonah here” (Lk 11:32).
In every generation, God gives a sign – one that leads to salvation. It calls for “metanoia”, i.e. a change of mind. However, we can choose to heed to the divine sign or be adamant and seek for other “signs” that bring no transformation. It is never the desire of the Lord that anyone of us should perish. Consequently, he has given us the greatest sign in the person of his Son Jesus Christ. Anyone who believes in him is assured of salvation (cf. Jn 3:16).
Prayer: Eternal Father, you so loved me that you gave me your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. As I place my faith in him, lead me to everlasting life. Amen.
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).